Donor Spotlight: Tanmay Juneja —
A Commitment Rooted in Connection and Community

By Henry Zhang

When Tanmay Juneja first encountered Sambhali Trust in late 2019 on a visit to his wife’s family in Jodhpur, it felt like a natural extension of his connection to the city and his long-standing awareness of how often women face disadvantages in their daily lives there. This early belief led him to Sambhali, and the organization’s “outsized impact,” as he describes it, is what has kept him involved ever since. In a place where traditional notions are so deeply ingrained, witnessing such profound shifts in both opportunity and self-confidence deeply inspired him.

 What resonates most with Tanmay is Sambhali’s commitment to inclusion and sustainable economic development. The idea of equipping vulnerable communities with practical life skills mirrors the kind of change he believes can transform entire families, and eventually, entire communities.

Upon returning home to New Jersey, Tanmay contacted Shereen Arent, president of Sambhali U.S. which had launched just a month earlier. By early the next year he had joined the Sambhali U.S. Board of Directors where he served for four years, including service on its Executive Committee as the organization’s Secretary.

One experience that stands out clearly in his mind is the SUStenance event held at Mastercard, where Tanmay works, in its Manhattan office in July 2023. He remembers the impact of seeing Sambhali women’s and children’s stories shared on a major corporate stage, and the strong turnout from employees who took time out of their workday to listen. What made the event even more memorable were the goodie bags thoughtfully put together by Shereen, filled with items made by Sambhali women and local artisans from Jodhpur. “Everyone appreciated it,” he recalls.

In 2024, Tanmay and his team won Mastercard’s CEO Award, which gave them the opportunity to direct a $5,000 donation to a nonprofit of their choice. The decision was made without hesitation. His colleagues knew how much Sambhali U.S. meant to him and supported it wholeheartedly. He described feeling proud of his team’s accomplishment and humbled that their success could translate into meaningful support for a grassroots organization he cares deeply about.

Tanmay has returned to visit Sambhali Trust programs in Jodhpur several times, most recently at the end of 2025, this time joined by his wife and daughter. Visiting Sambhali’s centers always makes him feel grounded, and sharing the experience with his family made it especially meaningful. Watching his daughter play with the Laadli Boarding Home children was heartwarming, and seeing his wife immersed in conversations with the women gave new depth to the stories he had shared with her over the years. He also had the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremony for 132 women and adolescent girls from Empowerment Centers in Jodhpur, each receiving a sewing machine to be able to continue their road to economic strength. Both experiences spurred Tanmay’s generosity, with one donation made in honor of the Laadli girls and their kindness toward his daughter and the other made in honor of his grandmothers on the occasion of the Empowerment Center graduation. And both donations were matched by Mastercard.

Compared to previous visits, Sambhali Trust's progress is evident: the programs have expanded, establishing new centers in Jaisalmer, and the staff has shown remarkable confidence as they know they are building something meaningful for their community. Even with that growth, Tanmay felt their humility remained intact, as did their clear-eyed understanding of the challenges they face.

When he thinks about what captures “why Sambhali,” his thoughts go to his grandmothers, who expressed love through the handstitched gifts they made for the family. Supporting an organization that teaches embroidery and sewing and transforms those skills into dignity and economic independence is like continuing a family tradition.

Looking ahead, Tanmay hopes to see Sambhali’s sewing machine distribution grow in the coming years, reflecting the rapid growth already underway. And to anyone considering getting involved, he offers simple encouragement: he hopes his experience inspires others to include Sambhali U.S. in their giving and for volunteers, he adds, “You couldn’t find a more talented, dedicated, and fun-loving team than Sambhali U.S.”